Toby Pasman, MS, BCN, QEEG-D: Brain Mapping, Neurofeedback, and Health Optimization | How to Improve Brain Function and Overall Health
Jan 30, 2023
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Toby Pasman is a neurophysiology researcher and the founder of NeuroFlex, focusing on brain mapping and neurofeedback for health optimization. In this conversation, he dives into the fascinating world of brain waves and their impact on mental states, revealing how understanding these waves can transform lives. Toby shares his insights on chronic inflammation's effects and explains neurofeedback's potential in enhancing focus and productivity. He even conducts a live brain mapping session, showcasing the practical applications of these innovative techniques.
Toby Pasman discusses the impact of different brain wave types on mental states, emphasizing their crucial role in cognitive performance.
The podcast highlights neurofeedback as an innovative tool for individuals to self-regulate their brain activity and improve focus.
Chronic inflammation and magnesium deficiency are identified as significant factors that can negatively affect brain health and overall well-being.
A holistic approach to brain optimization is encouraged, integrating exercise, nutrition, and proper sleep to enhance neuroplasticity and cognitive function.
Deep dives
Introduction to NeuroFlex and Neurophysiology
The episode features a discussion with Toby Pasman, founder of NeuroFlex, where he specializes in applied neuroscience for brain health optimization. He explains how NeuroFlex offers personalized brain health coaching and neuromodulation services tailored to individual neurophysiology. The host shares an experience of undergoing a live brain mapping session where he could visualize the functionality and connections within his own brain. This unique exploration aims to demystify the intimidating field of neurophysiology and make it accessible to anyone interested in optimizing their cognitive performance.
The Impact of Stress on Health
A central topic discussed is the effect of professional stress on overall health, particularly highlighting magnesium deficiency as a major consequence. The host notes that stress can lead to anxiety, irritability, and sleep difficulties, emphasizing the importance of daily magnesium supplementation for overall well-being. The podcast also references a previous episode that delves deeper into magnesium’s benefits, including better sleep and increased energy levels. The message is clear: without adequate magnesium, individuals may struggle with numerous health challenges, making supplementation a key consideration.
Brain Mapping and EEG Technology
The podcast goes into depth about the process of brain mapping using EEG technology to examine electrical brain activity across several frequencies, specifically delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma waves. Toby explains how this data forms a roadmap of individual brain function, allowing for targeted neuromodulation to improve cognitive abilities. During the session, they measure various brainwave patterns, seeking to identify areas of overactivity or deficiency that can be optimized through training. This personalized assessment sets the stage for future neurofeedback sessions aimed at enhancing brain performance.
Nuanced Understanding of Neurofeedback
Toby introduces the concept of neurofeedback as a dynamic training tool that provides real-time feedback to help individuals regulate their brainwave activity. The experience is likened to video game mechanics, where the participant can control the outcome by optimizing their focus. This interaction allows the brain to learn how to achieve more desirable states of awareness and focus without relying on medication. The idea is that neurofeedback can empower individuals to attain cognitive advantages through practice, just as one would train for physical strength.
The Role of Neuroplasticity
A significant focus of the conversation is neuroplasticity, which refers to the brain's ability to adapt, change, and reorganize itself both structurally and functionally throughout an individual's life. The episode discusses how the brain can not only recover from deficits but also improve its performance through targeted interventions like neurofeedback. Toby emphasizes that engaging with neurofeedback and other technologies can foster healthier connections in the brain, ultimately leading to enhanced cognitive function. This perspective reframes the conversation around brain health from one of limitations to one of possibilities.
Integrating Technology for Mental Health
The podcast explores various neurotechnologies available for individuals seeking to enhance their mental health and cognitive performance. These include photobiomodulation with near-infrared light, cranial electric stimulation, and audio-visual entrainment, all intended to improve brain health and function. The session is framed as an innovative approach to mental wellness, allowing users to access deeper relaxation and heightened focus through technology. By integrating these tools, users can experience significant benefits in managing stress, anxiety, and overall brain vitality.
Strategies for Optimal Brain Function
Finally, the host and Toby discuss practical strategies that complement the use of neurofeedback and other technologies, emphasizing a holistic approach to brain health. Suggestions include maintaining good sleep hygiene, optimizing nutrition, and engaging in regular physical activity to support neurogenesis and neuroplasticity. They stress the importance of fostering a balanced lifestyle to maximize the benefits of brain training technologies. Ultimately, the conversation encourages individuals to take proactive steps toward enhancing their brain function as part of a larger wellness strategy.
Today’s episode is all about improving the health of your brain! Exercise, sleep, nutrition, and meditation are all tools we can use to optimize our health, and brain hacking is the next frontier. Today’s guest, Toby Pasman, through his company NuroFlex, is at the forefront of this fascinating field, and he is just about as close to a mind reader as a person can get! Did you know that you have numerous different types of brain waves and that each one is responsible for different states that you experience? During this episode, Toby explains what happens when we have deficient or overactive brain waves, and how we can transform our lives when we understand our brain waves better. For a more practical understanding of how brain mapping and hacking tools work, Toby puts Andres’ brain to the test and then analyzes the results!
Key Points From This Episode:
Introducing Tony Pasman, neurophysiology researcher and founder of NeuroFlex. [00:08]
A real-time explanation of how brain mapping works (using Andres as the test subject). [06:15]
How Tony found his way into the biohacking space. [10:11]
Andres’ relationship with focus and productivity. [16:22]
Consequences of deficient and overactive beta brain waves. [22:10]
The benefits of brain mapping. [23:19]
Understanding the different types of brain waves. [25:05]
How chronic inflammation affects the brain. [29:33]
Toby explains how Nuroflex’s neurofeedback tool works. [32:16]
Stories that highlight the power of photobiomodulation technologies. [33:50]
Analyzing Andres’ brain waves. [40:41]
What Z-scores tell us about brain activity. [44:09]
Physiological causes of ADD and ways to mitigate the symptoms [50:16]
Defining nootropics. [56:41]
An overview of how Andres’ brain is currently performing. [58:16]
How to improve the neuroplasticity of your brain. [1:01:20]
A run-through of Andres’ light therapy session. [1:04:34]
The importance of mitochondrial health. [1:08:20]
Advice for enhancing muscle strength. [1:13:14]
Why a brain workout can feel as strenuous as a physical one. [1:15:30]
Toby explains how neurofeedback technology can improve our ability to focus. [1:19:11]
How audio-visual entrainment works, and the benefits of using this technology. [1:29:28]
The main goal that Toby aims to achieve with NuroFlex. [1:40:36]
